The loan agreements originated by commercial banks, savings banks, finance companies, insurance organizations, and investment banks are very different from each other and all feed a different purpose. "Commercial banks" and "Savings banks," because they accept deposits and benefit from FDIC insurance, generate loans that incorporate the concepts of the "public trust." Prior to interstate banking, that "public trust" was easily measured by State bank regulators who could see how local deposits were used to fund the working capital needs of local industry and businesses, and the benefits associated with those organization's employment.

Borrowers should create a folder to store loan document records, along with a record of phone and email correspondence. Always keep track of phone conversations by writing down a summary of the call, date, time, and name of the bank representative spoken with. When important documents are mailed, invest in the extra protection of tracking receipts. Certified letters should be sent with a return receipt request in case it is necessary to provide evidence the documents were received.

If you are planning to build your own home, the entire process can be extremely overwhelming. There are very few projects you or anyone else can take on that are more stressful and more prone to problems. One of the most dizzying aspects of building your own home is having a grasp on all of the legal agreements and contracts that you will need to enter into to get the job done.

Always obtain loan agreements in writing and read the fine print. One of the biggest mistakes borrowers make is entering into verbal agreements. If things go wrong there is no evidence to prove the case. Debtors should know the number of deferred payments, payment schedule, fees or penalties, and how the lender reports suspended payments to credit bureaus.